359 pages
English language
Published Nov. 5, 2018
When the scary, magical world in her grandmother's book of dark feminist fairy tales becomes real, seventeen-year-old Alice, partnered with Ellery, an obsessed fan of the fairy tales, must enter the world to rescue Alice's kidnapped mother.
Very interesting alternate universe/portal concept. Took a very very long time for the story to resolve. I was rather done with the world and decided to skip the bonus story at the end.
Melissa Albert has created a world so intriguing and unsettling at times that it is impossible not to want to know more about Hazel Wood, Alice’s famous grandmother Althea Proserpine - creator of ’Tales of the Hinterland.’
The story held my attention from the first page and I was quickly drawn into the novel with my head filling with questions. Namely, why has Alice never met her grandmother, and why is such an infamous book not found anywhere. Because let's be honest, we live in a world where you can find little bits of everything on line.
I felt sorry for Alice, someone who didn't know what it was to have the security of a home and had longed to know the stranger who was also family. I do wish that there had been more about Althea Proserpine because the is an enigma to both the reader and her family …
Melissa Albert has created a world so intriguing and unsettling at times that it is impossible not to want to know more about Hazel Wood, Alice’s famous grandmother Althea Proserpine - creator of ’Tales of the Hinterland.’
The story held my attention from the first page and I was quickly drawn into the novel with my head filling with questions. Namely, why has Alice never met her grandmother, and why is such an infamous book not found anywhere. Because let's be honest, we live in a world where you can find little bits of everything on line.
I felt sorry for Alice, someone who didn't know what it was to have the security of a home and had longed to know the stranger who was also family. I do wish that there had been more about Althea Proserpine because the is an enigma to both the reader and her family - but that lack of information whilst frustrating does mean you’re left wanting to know more.
Tales of the Hinterland is a book I would love to read and I hope the author does at some point because the ones Ellery recalls are disturbing and could be a part of a Hammer horror movie fest as your senses are on edge as the tales are gradually and somewhat begrudgingly recounted by Althea’s super-fan. I for one would be terrified to meet Twice-killed Katherine in a dark alley for example. It doesn't matter if she wouldn't be interested in harming me.
Which gives you another question how are the macabre characters from a fairy tale book worthy of being a part of Brothers Grimm?
You are going to have to read the book to find out.
